Collected Thoughts

Selfless was a great episode, Anya was written so wonderfully. We got her backstory, we got continuity, Buffy was finally communicating with Xander and Willow. And poor Xander. Poor Anya.

I think I relate to strongly to Anya in a lot of ways. I understand her feelings of lack of self. Someone I was chatting with last night kept saying that "No, Anya does have a life that is separate from Xander" and that she shouldn't feel a lack of sense of self. But it doesn't matter what Anya has it's what she feels. I think she really loves Xander and I know Xander loves her, but Anya has changed herself to fit into what people wanted. At least to some degree.

I'm assuming that, as a vengance demon, she would do what was neccessary to fit in so the scorned woman would make a wish to a stranger.

And when Anya became human she did the same thing, she tried to fit in. Of course her personality that everyone chalked up to her being a demon for so long was actually how she was as Aud. Her entire social and professional life is tied to the Scoobies and Xander. She's good with math and she likes to bowl, but she's got a ways to go before she really discovers who she is. I hope that we'll see her development on screen and that this search for self won't be played off for jokes.

Buffy was great this episode, even when she had to kill Anya, she didn't want to. It is what she does, she kills demons who threaten humans. Now if she'd just realize that this applies to Spike.

Willow was scary when she flashed all dark eyed and creepy. I've been worried that everythign would be glossed over and everything would be just fine now that Willow is back, it's good to see that the power that corrupted her is still there. I wish that ME had played that Willow is addicted to the power that magic gives her rather than the magic itself last season.

And Xander, he's gallant and brave and he can't accept gray areas. Not in other people and not in himself. He loves Anya and he's willing to overlook everything she did as a demon becuase she's human and he loves her. Buffy lives in the gray area, her entire life is gray area full of lies and tough decisions and I don't think Xander can understand that.

It reminds me of Giles' speech at the end of Lie to Me.

So last night's episode was the first I actually watched all the way through instead of fast forwarding through some parts.

Byron was...I don't want to say laughable but Smallville writers don't seem to understand subtlity. I'm really getting tired of being showered by anvils. It would be so much better if they could use a lighter touch.

Lana continues to be stupid. I wanted to like Lana but dear god, she wanders off to the cemetary and takes on Byron. I suppose she thought her dead parents would save her. And she tells the rampaging Byron that Lionel Luthor was responsible for his problems. Also there is no way that Lana knows Donne by heart. No way, she's not smart enough.

However Lex quoting poetry to Lana was enough for me to, briefly, see attraction between Lex and Lana. And that's ONLY Because MR has BBoC factor.

I love Martha even more. She's not afraid of Lionel, she really likes Lex. Jonathan is going to be so sore, he's losing his wife and his son to Lionel. Lex's protective instincts for the Kents are still there, although I'm not sure how he's going to carry out his threats. I got a Lionel wants Martha vibe. Not because Martha is Martha Kent but because she stood up to him and didn't defer. Lex tries to stand up to Lionel but he never quite manages it. Lex is young though, he'll have his chance. But it must be so hard on Lex to see the kindness and affection that Lionel showed toward Martha when Lex can't get that for himself (from Lionel I mean).

I have to wonder if Lionel won't be up to something. Clark took a real chance fighting Byron on the mansion grounds with Lionel right there. The man maybe blind but he's not stupid.